Rod Keller checks in with how the new Scientology Network is playing with Scientologists themselves…

The media buzz about Scientology TV is over, but members are being told the network is thriving and achieving all the goals set out for it. This is being played out in typical Scientology [...]]]>

Rod Keller checks in with how the new Scientology Network is playing with Scientologists themselves…

The media buzz about Scientology TV is over, but members are being told the network is thriving and achieving all the goals set out for it. This is being played out in typical Scientology manner – through “Success Stories.” They are the counterpart to the statistics given at major events about how many books were sold, or how many volunteers were sent to disaster areas. Scientologists must write a success story with all the details about how much they have been helped in order to graduate to the next service on the Bridge. Similar anecdotes serve to convince members that their donations are well spent to combat Black PR and antagonism, and that Scientology is constantly expanding.

 
Success stories are also being distributed which claim that the network is helping disseminate and expand Scientology, such as this story from Gary, Indiana. “2.0” refers to “antagonism” on the emotional Tone Scale. Those low on the scale will not understand or accept the truths offered by Scientology. The narrative is that the network is raising the tone of those getting information about Scientology for the first time. Apparently watching a documentary about a printing plant can have that effect.

 
It’s important in today’s Scientology that everything be “ideal.” Ideal orgs, missions, Narconon treatment centers, books and tapes, the high quality of everything is promoted and symbolic of the abilities gained by going up the bridge. It’s important that Scientology TV be seen as the highest quality channel available, and several members are promoting the idea that only the National Geographic channel comes close to its production values.

We asked the former babysitter for Glenis Batley for comment. His name is Marc Headley and he worked at Golden Era Studios producing Scientology videos and tapes for 16 years before escaping in 2005. His book Blown for Good recounts his experiences in the church.

I am not sure the quality is any better than anything else. The app crashed on me every time I tried to watch. Also, none of the other stations or production companies have unlimited free labor. Sea Org members are getting less than the lowest Chinese factory workers get. When you can spend all year working on shows that require no ads and have no budget or time constraints you can cranks out some flashy effects. I am pretty sure that NO ONE in the industry is blown away by anything they are doing.

The real story is not how many industry people are “impressed,” but how many people end up in their forever-empty organizations around the globe. My bet is that they will remain empty as they have with every other revolutionary ground-breaking planetary salvaging action they have taken in the last decade. If there is one thing Scientology is awesome at, it’s spending millions of dollars promoting themselves that ends up with less people in their clutches.

 
Bringing in new members is a goal of Scientology TV but, according to training materials being distributed, not the top priority. This is a Google translation of an email accompanying this poster from Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

The global spread of the Chinese Scientology world
You want to be a master of Scientology spread the net on it?
Date: Sunday, April 8, 2018
Time: 1:00~5:00
Venue: B2 Auditorium, Ideal Org, Kaohsiung
Open Object: Scientology person, student, peripheral staff, staff of the Center staff & agencies
Fees: Priceless (free)
Nature: seminar plus water seats

Content includes:
How to use the global Scientology Television Network
(1) Deal with black propaganda
(2) Raising the public relations in Scientology
(3) Get rid of potential trouble sources
(4) Publicize people around you
(5) Increase the quantity and quality of publicity
(6) Let the books circulate to more new people

Do you know which channels and videos are currently available in Chinese? If Taiwan wants to integrate with global communications, what should we do? When you arrive at the org, what guidance do you have to do in order to successfully get them to buy books and register for services? How can you guide people who have sold books to institutions/centres to receive services?

The top three goals of the network are to handle antagonism towards Scientology and to counter criticism, known as “Black PR.” Unless that happens and Scientology has a safe space to expand, recruiting new members is secondary.

—–

 
We reported in January that Scientology plans a new Narconon in the Lombardy region of Italy. The location of Narconon Aurora has been announced as Via Per Le Orane, 50, Osnago. No date has been announced for the opening of this seventh Narconon facility in Italy.

 
— Rod Keller

 
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SMERSH Madness 2018

 
The readers of the Underground Bunker have spoken, and the winner of our SMERSH Madness brackets for 2018, the person our readers judged Scientology’s greatest champion and promoter of the church’s reputation, is Scientology’s leader himself, David Miscavige!

He was our #1 seed and pretty handily won the final match against a surprising upstart, our #11 seed, former top church enforcer Mark “Marty” Rathbun, who had pushed aside both John Travolta and Tom Cruise to get to the championship showdown.

With these two leading the way, Scientology’s future reputation seems all but assured, doesn’t it?

 
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Make your plans now!

Wow, it’s already April! (And happy Easter to those of you who observe it.) Our flight and hotel is booked — who’s going to join us in Chicago? Remember, Friday (June 22) is Fly Day, and Saturday night (June 23) Chicago Fire star Christian Stolte will be helping us present things on stage as we hold our event at an actual theater this year. It’s going to be a wild time. Head over to our HowdyCon 2018 website to start making your travel plans!

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on April 1, 2018 at 07:00

E-mail tips and story ideas to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We post behind-the-scenes updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.

Our book, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.

The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2017 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Undergound Bunker (2012-2017), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)

Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…

BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of L.A. attorney and former church member Vance Woodward
UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists
GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice
SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts

Other links: Shelly Miscavige, ten years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ

Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news

 Brent Jones is back, and this time he’s aiming high.

You might remember the name. He’s a Scientologist who was elected to Nevada’s Assembly and served from 2015 to 2016. We wrote about him at the time not only because it’s pretty rare for Scientologists to hold elected office but also because of his involvement with [...]]]>

 
Brent Jones is back, and this time he’s aiming high.

You might remember the name. He’s a Scientologist who was elected to Nevada’s Assembly and served from 2015 to 2016. We wrote about him at the time not only because it’s pretty rare for Scientologists to hold elected office but also because of his involvement with the sale of snake oil and ostrich eggs.

Way back in the year 2000, our colleague Ron Russell at New Times Los Angeles wrote about Jones’ involvement in the sad case of Raul Lopez, a Southern California man who received $1.7 million in a settlement after suffering brain damage in a car accident. Scientology pounced on the suddenly wealthy young man, finding creative ways to get him to part with his money, including investing in ostrich eggs, which Jones, his attorney, helped facilitate.

More recently, Jones has a company, Affinity Lifestyles, that sells “Real Water,” which the company claims has all sorts of good health effects because it is “alkalized.” In a 2011 article, the Guardian debunked that claim, but Jones continues to sell Real Water today, and some of the proceeds go to the Citizens Commission on Human Rights, Scientology’s unhinged front group that demonizes the psychiatric profession.

In 2016, the Daily Beast reported that an Affinity Lifestyles employee was suing the company for forcing her to watch Scientology videos as part of her job.

Despite that track record — which gets brought up every time Jones is in the news — he’s aiming high and this time is running not for Nevada’s legislature, but for lieutenant governor.

He’s facing state Senator Michael Roberson in the Republican primary on June 12.

Wouldn’t it be fun if Joy Villa were to show up to campaign for him?

 
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SMERSH Madness 2018

We’re down to the championship match! We want to thank our readers for taking part in our big dance that featured the people we believed are working hardest to defend Scientology against its enemies. These were not only Scientologists, but also the people who enable the church as it works against its foes. And which of them did you decide deserved the most recognition for Keeping Scientology Working, spreading disconnection, and litigating former Scientologists into the ground? Well, our final pairing features Scientology leader David Miscavige and his former top enforcer, Mark “Marty” Rathbun!

Miscavige defeated Mike Ellis in the second round, Bert Deixler in the third, and Monique Yingling in the Final Four. He’s our #1 seed because he’s been leading the Scientology movement for more than 30 years now. His biggest accomplishment in that time, no doubt, was winning tax-exempt status for the church in 1993. In more recent years, he’s been consumed with making appearances of Scientology “expansion” with his “Ideal Org” program, opening buildings around the world as a media strategy. But the relentless pressure he’s put on members to donate, coupled with his legendary ruthlessness, has produced a steady exodus of many longtime, loyal fans of L. Ron Hubbard. And now, his new grand scheme: Scientology TV. We were actually surprised to see him introduce the new TV channel with a short monologue. Now, if he’d only sit down for a real press interview.

We rated Rathbun as our #11 seed, but he defeated Danny Masterson in the first round, Trish Duggan in the second, John Travolta in the third, and Tom Cruise in the Final Four! Rathbun is clearly popular with our readers as a champion of Scientology, which is a pretty stunning turn of events considering his trajectory from Miscavige enforcer (1980s to 2004) to reclusive defector (2004-2008) to Indie champion (2009-2012) to anti-church litigant (2013-2015) and then back to Miscavige defender (2016- ). In his professionally-prepared attack videos, he’s taken a shotgun approach with blasts at everyone from Lawrence Wright to Paul Haggis to Leah Remini. But it’s his vicious swipes at Mike Rinder, formerly such a good and supportive friend, that really strike us as ugly in the extreme. It’s a pretty bewildering U-turn for a man who once said, “Just so everybody knows, as Miscavige just won’t seem to get it through his head, I will never fold to any pressure no matter how intense, and I am not for sale – at any price.”

 
Who is the champion of Scientology? Who has done more to perpetuate the church’s reputation in this time of crisis? Cast your votes!

 
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Make your plans now!

Head over to our HowdyCon 2018 website to start making your travel plans!

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on March 31, 2018 at 07:00

E-mail tips and story ideas to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We post behind-the-scenes updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.

Our book, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.

The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2017 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Undergound Bunker (2012-2017), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)

Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…

BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of L.A. attorney and former church member Vance Woodward
UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists
GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice
SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts

Other links: Shelly Miscavige, ten years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ

Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news

 We spoke yesterday with Lt. Tony Taylor of the Sylvania Police Department in Georgia, which investigated the March 16 death of noted Scientology critic Arnie Lerma.

He confirmed much of what we had already gathered in our previous reporting. Lerma’s wife, Ginger [...]]]>

 
We spoke yesterday with Lt. Tony Taylor of the Sylvania Police Department in Georgia, which investigated the March 16 death of noted Scientology critic Arnie Lerma.

He confirmed much of what we had already gathered in our previous reporting. Lerma’s wife, Ginger Sugerman, told us that Arnie shot her in the face with a handgun. She had been sitting on the couch of their home when he approached her. She remembered running and falling before Lerma shot her, but the two bullet holes in the wall behind the couch suggest that he shot before she ran.

Ginger said she was surprised when she was told that, but it’s understandable given what she went through.

“I’m sure it was a very traumatic experience and it happened in just a few seconds,” Lt. Taylor points out.

He also said that one of the two bullet holes showed blood spray, consistent with Lerma hitting Ginger once out of the two shots. She apparently turned her head just as he shot, and the bullet tore off her upper lip and took out two teeth, leaving her face disfigured. After she was shot, Ginger ran to a neighbor’s house, who called 911.

Lerma and Sugerman lived in a small apartment building, and someone else in the building told police that she heard shots.

“She said she heard two shots about seven or eight minutes apart. What I think happened was that she heard the first two shots in rapid succession as a single shot,” Lt. Taylor said. “Later she heard the additional shot and a ‘blam’ sound, which we think was Arnie falling against the wall.”

When police arrived, according to the report, Officer Mike Dickerson talked briefly with Ginger before she was taken away by emergency services. Then the police carefully went into the apartment and found Lerma.

He was in a downstairs bathroom. Lt. Taylor said the door opened inward, and Lerma’s body was blocking it. So the fire department had to remove the door’s hinges to get to Arnie.

He was found with a single gunshot wound through the mouth and out the top of his head.

A textbook suicide? “Yes, sir,” Lt. Taylor said.

While his stepdaughter was staying with Ginger at a Savannah hospital, Pastor Reggie Spires of Covenant Church asked the police department for permission to clean the apartment before Ginger returned home on Sunday. By then, Lt. Taylor said, the police department was done with the scene.

“The pastor asked if it was all right to clean up the scene. We gave them the go-ahead. They certainly didn’t want her coming home to that,” he said.

Lt. Taylor added that the county Medical Examiner’s Office had given him an initial statement after examining Lerma. “Intra-oral gunshot wound to the head, cause of death suicide,” he said.

Results of an autopsy, including toxicology, will take several weeks more.

“The case is closed and we’re going to move on. I’m going to miss Arnie. He was a good guy,” Lt. Taylor said.

 
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SMERSH Madness 2018

We’re continuing with our the Final Four today in our big dance that features the people we think are working hardest to defend Scientology against its enemies. These are not only Scientologists, but also the people who enable the church as it works against its foes. Which of them do you think deserves the most recognition for Keeping Scientology Working, spreading disconnection, and litigating former Scientologists into the ground?

Our matchup today features our #1 seed, Scientology leader David Miscavige, who defeated Mike Ellis in the second round and Bert Deixler in the third. He’s at the top of the heap because he’s been leading the Scientology movement for more than 30 years now. His biggest accomplishment in that time, no doubt, was winning tax-exempt status for the church in 1993. In more recent years, he’s been consumed with making appearances of Scientology “expansion” with his “Ideal Org” program, opening buildings around the world as a media strategy. But the relentless pressure he’s put on members to donate, coupled with his legendary ruthlessness, has produced a steady exodus of many longtime, loyal fans of L. Ron Hubbard. And now, his new grand scheme: Scientology TV. We were actually surprised to see him introduce the new TV channel with a short monologue. Now, if he’d only sit down for a real press interview.

He’s taking on our number #5 seed, Washington DC tax attorney Monique Yingling, who defeated Bodhi Elfman in the second round and Kendrick Moxon in the third. Monique has been working for Scientology for many years. But for much of that time she was somewhat overshadowed by her husband, the late Gerald Feffer, who was Scientology’s biggest legal heavy hitter. After his death in 2013, Monique has really come into her own as David Miscavige’s legal shield, particularly her spectacular performance two years ago on an episode of ABC’s 20/20. She was a last-minute addition just as the program was about to air an episode about Ron Miscavige’s book, Ruthless, and she blinked her way through an amazing series of obfuscations and half-truths, becoming an overnight star for the church. She even brought the crew muffins that had been baked by Sea Org workers. With Miscavige not able to put any Scientologists in front of news cameras, we may be seeing more of Yingling in the future.

Who deserves to move on as champions of Scientology? Who has done more to perpetuate the church’s reputation in this time of crisis? Cast your votes!

 
Yesterday’s winner: Marty Rathbun defeated Tom Cruise!

 
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Make your plans now!

Head over to our HowdyCon 2018 website to start making your travel plans!

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on March 30, 2018 at 07:00

E-mail tips and story ideas to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We post behind-the-scenes updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.

Our book, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.

The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2017 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Undergound Bunker (2012-2017), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)

Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…

BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of L.A. attorney and former church member Vance Woodward
UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists
GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice
SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts

Other links: Shelly Miscavige, ten years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ

Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news

 Leah Remini continues her mini-publicity blitz, this time talking with our correspondent Jeffrey Augustine for his latest podcast. We asked Jeffrey for a description…

Leah talks about her upcoming third season of Scientology and the Aftermath. She also talks about Scientology’s Fair Game policy, the church’s new television network, and Scientology as a business. She also [...]]]>

 
Leah Remini continues her mini-publicity blitz, this time talking with our correspondent Jeffrey Augustine for his latest podcast. We asked Jeffrey for a description…

Leah talks about her upcoming third season of Scientology and the Aftermath. She also talks about Scientology’s Fair Game policy, the church’s new television network, and Scientology as a business. She also has kind things to say about this website and its community.

Given Leah’s extensive background in television, I asked her how she would characterize Scientology TV. She said that David Miscavige has spent something like $100 million for an infomercial that endlessly cycles through the same content — in other words, a glorified YouTube channel.

As for Fair Game, Leah says the contributors to her show have been subjected to Scientology’s usual tactics of character assassination. But she says that no amount of Fair Game will stop her or anyone else who works to expose the brutality, lies, and greed of the Church of Scientology.

Leah describes her ongoing process of unlearning and undoing what Scientology did to her. This work is helping her regain what Scientology took from her and everyone else who has been harmed by Scientology. This unlearning, which so many former Scientologists are familiar with, allows the restoration of one’s humanity, compassion, and caring.

— Jeffrey Augustine

 
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Bonus items from our tipsters

Here’s a great example of the kind of claims we were talking about yesterday. The Scientology television network — it’s a miracle!

 
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SMERSH Madness 2018

We’ve reached the Final Four! We’ve really whittled things down in our big dance featuring the people we think are working hardest to defend Scientology against its enemies. These are not only Scientologists, but also the people who enable the church as it works against its foes. Which of them do you think deserves the most recognition for Keeping Scientology Working, spreading disconnection, and litigating former Scientologists into the ground?

Today’s match features our #2 seed, actor Tom Cruise, who defeated Tommy Davis in the second round and Nancy Cartwright in the third. Easily the most recognized Scientologist in the world, he’s been a feather in David Miscavige’s cap since he started in the church back in the year 1986. And today, Cruise and Miscavige really do consider themselves the two most important human beings on Earth, and those of us not following their example are deluded, degraded beings living on a prison planet. Even after the revelations that his best pal is spying on him, manipulating his relationships, and even laughs at his sexual problems behind his back, Cruise seems utterly dedicated to the cause — despite what you might have heard.

Cruise is taking on our #11 seed and former top Scientology official Mark “Marty” Rathbun, who has certainly been earning his stripes lately as Scientology’s go-to attack dog. (Rathbun defeated Danny Masterson in the first round, Trish Duggan in the second, and John Travolta in the third.) It’s a pretty stunning turn of events for people who were watching Rathbun’s gradual trajectory from Miscavige enforcer (1980s to 2004) to reclusive defector (2004-2008) to Indie champion (2009-2012) to anti-church litigant (2013-2015) and then back to Miscavige defender (2016- ). In his professionally-prepared attack videos, he’s taken a shotgun approach with blasts at everyone from Lawrence Wright to Paul Haggis to Leah Remini. But it’s his vicious swipes at Mike Rinder, formerly such a good and supportive friend, that really strike us as ugly in the extreme. It’s a pretty bewildering U-turn for a man who once said, “Just so everybody knows, as Miscavige just won’t seem to get it through his head, I will never fold to any pressure no matter how intense, and I am not for sale – at any price.”

Who deserves to move on as champions of Scientology? Who has done more to perpetuate the church’s reputation in this time of crisis? Cast your votes!

 
Yesterday’s winner: David Miscavige defeated Bert Deixler!

 
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Make your plans now!

Head over to our HowdyCon 2018 website to start making your travel plans!

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on March 29, 2018 at 07:00

E-mail tips and story ideas to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We post behind-the-scenes updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.

Our book, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.

The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2017 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Undergound Bunker (2012-2017), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)

Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…

BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of L.A. attorney and former church member Vance Woodward
UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists
GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice
SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts

Other links: Shelly Miscavige, ten years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ

Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news

 It’s been more than two weeks since David Miscavige premiered Scientology TV, a project he’s been working on for years. And not only is he spending a boatload for his TV channel — carried on DirecTV and a mess of apps — but it’s pretty obvious that the church has paid for a truly massive [...]]]>

 
It’s been more than two weeks since David Miscavige premiered Scientology TV, a project he’s been working on for years. And not only is he spending a boatload for his TV channel — carried on DirecTV and a mess of apps — but it’s pretty obvious that the church has paid for a truly massive advertising campaign in the days since the March 12 launch.

We know that because we keep seeing complaints on social media from listeners and viewers who are shocked and dismayed that their favorite stations are running frequent ads for the channel…

 
In other words, David Miscavige is going for broke on this thing. He even appeared in the initial broadcast and introduced the network. We finally got a chance to snag the entire transcript of what he said. Here’s his monologue…

Hello, and welcome. You’ve probably heard of Scientology. In fact, every six seconds, someone searches the question, ‘What is Scientology?’ There’s a lot of talk about us, and we get it. People are curious. Well, we want to answer your questions, because frankly, whatever you have heard, if you haven’t heard it from us, I can assure you we are not what you expect. So, while I could tell you Scientology is new, our approach is new, our answers are new, and that Scientology is not just something you believe in, it’s something you do — well, I’m sure you would much rather just see for yourself. And that’s what Scientology Network is all about. To show you inside Scientology — who we are, what Scientology is, and what Scientology can do. Scientology is a dynamic and expanding religion, and we’re going to be showing you all of it. For instance, I’m standing in our spiritual headquarters, and we’ll take you through all of it. Likewise, we’ll take you into our churches spanning 167 countries on six continents. We’ll also take you behind the scenes and into our church management, publications and dissemination facilities, humanitarian outreach centers and programs, and even into our new millenium Scientology archives. But even so, there remains the question of why so many people are Scientologists and why they’re so passionate about it. In answer to that question you’ll meet Scientologists from all walks of life, firefighters to factory workers, doctors to CEOs, and yes, some of the most well known artists and celebrities in the world. You’ll see Scientology in practice — our values and beliefs, our technology of auditing, our E-meter, everything. Finally, we’ll answer the question as to how Scientology came to be the only major religion founded in the 20th century, and that’s the story of our founder, L. Ron Hubbard, a true-to-life genius, and an honest-to-God modern-day Renaissance Man. But with all that, let’s be clear, we’re not here to preach to you, to convince you, or to convert you. No, we simply want to show you. Because, after all, the first principle of Scientology is that it’s only true if it is true for you. So take a look. And then decide for yourself. I’m David Miscavige, and this is the Scientology Network.

It’s a small thing, but you’d think they’d be sensitive about giving out bogus information in such an important opening speech: “Churches spanning 167 countries on six continents.”

If you assume that “churches” means missions and orgs, according to Scientology’s own website it has facilities in 50 countries, not 167. And when we’ve checked, some of those missions are in name only, with many of them shuttered or not functioning.

As for giving an inside look at the church, we have been surprised at some of Scientology’s oddities on display. But for the most part, the channel has been one long insufferable infomercial that is tough to watch. Critics everywhere have thrashed it.

But Scientology doesn’t flinch at criticism. Its TRs are in, and it’s in this thing for the long haul (as far as we know). So how well is it doing?

When the channel launched, we saw a lot of bluster online coming from Scientologists who claimed that their churches were stuffed with new people lining up to join after seeing the new media campaign.

We saw claims by Scientologists that orgs were so crammed with the curious, the local fire department had to be called in New York. Another said that traffic to Scientology’s main website had reached 17 million visitors in a single day. We saw a lot of Scientologists passing around these claims, and naturally, they were excited that the TV channel was finally bringing them the expansion and mainstream acceptance they crave.

But a couple of weeks later, reality seems to be setting in. Just a couple of data points to show you what we mean.

One of our correspondents passed along to us this notification from a Tampa Org staffer…

 
Says our tipster: “The Tampa Org must not be overrun with new Scientology TV viewers after all. Not if they’re asking for volunteers to sell Dianetics around town, including 15 Spanish speaking Scientologists for a Cuban Sandwich festival.”

And our tipster also passed along this schedule for volunteers to sign up for pushing Dianetics on raw public…

 
Eleven hours straight in a mall kiosk? Yeah, maybe those massive crowds aren’t showing up at the org after all.

Another data point: Mareka Backus made an impromptu visit to the Miami Ideal Org a few days ago (a friend of hers insisted on buying some admin books), and before she was chased away as a “suppressive,” she tells us she saw only “five or six” students in the “Div 6” courseroom on a Sunday afternoon, which should be prime time. Otherwise the places she went through were deserted. The Miami Org cost millions to open and is fairly new, but like other Ideal Orgs will struggle to bring in any foot traffic at all, TV network or no TV network.

But maybe the most telling evidence about the modest nature of Scientology’s bounce from the channel’s premiere is an online metric that we remembered to check.

According to the Alexa service, after more than two weeks since the debut of the network, Scientology’s official website has still not overtaken this modest one-man operation that you are reading right now.

Alexa says that Scientology’s website is currently ranked 27,694 in the United States — the lower the number, the higher the ranking. The Bunker? 26,799.

And just think of all that money Dave is spending.

 
——————–

SMERSH Madness 2018

Today we’re finishing up the third round of our big dance featuring the people we think are working hardest to defend Scientology against its enemies. These are not only Scientologists, but also the people who enable the church as it works against its foes. Which of them do you think deserves the most recognition for Keeping Scientology Working, spreading disconnection, and litigating former Scientologists into the ground?

Our matchup today features our #1 seed, Scientology leader David Miscavige, who defeated IJC Mike Ellis in the second round. He’s at the top of the heap because he’s been leading the Scientology movement for more than 30 years now. His biggest accomplishment in that time, no doubt, was winning tax-exempt status for the church in 1993. In more recent years, he’s been consumed with making appearances of Scientology “expansion” with his “Ideal Org” program, opening buildings around the world as a media strategy. But the relentless pressure he’s put on members to donate, coupled with his legendary ruthlessness, has produced a steady exodus of many longtime, loyal fans of L. Ron Hubbard. And now, his new grand scheme: Scientology TV. We were actually surprised to see him introduce the new TV channel with a short monologue. Now, if he’d only sit down for a real press interview.

Miscavige is taking on one of Scientology’s heaviest hitters in its courtroom battles, our #8 seed, Los Angeles attorney Bert Deixler, who defeated Grant Cardone in the second round. In particular, David Miscavige prefers Deixler as the church’s chief deposition taker — if Scientology wants to pressure you to say things that will be useful to them in court, it’s Bert whose job it is to get it out of you. But Bert’s real claim to fame as a Scientology attorney was the epic struggle he fought against Laura DeCrescenzo when she got a court order to obtain her personal files from the church in her forced-abortion lawsuit. Bert appealed that court order all the way to the California Supreme Court and the US Supreme Court, arguing that what was in Laura’s files was too “religious” for it to be released. Both courts ignored him, and Laura got her files. And what was in them? Vile records of a totalitarian organization manipulating a 12-year-old child. There was nothing religious about it. But Bert’s lies to the highest courts in the land got him in no trouble whatsoever, and only made him more valuable to Miscavige, we imagine.

Who deserves to move on as champions of Scientology? Who has done more to perpetuate the church’s reputation in this time of crisis? Cast your votes!

 
Yesterday’s winner: Tom Cruise crushed Nancy Cartwright!

 
——————–

Make your plans now!

Head over to our HowdyCon 2018 website to start making your travel plans!

 
——————–

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on March 28, 2018 at 06:30

E-mail tips and story ideas to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We post behind-the-scenes updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.

Our book, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.

The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2017 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Undergound Bunker (2012-2017), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)

Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…

BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of L.A. attorney and former church member Vance Woodward
UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists
GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice
SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts

Other links: Shelly Miscavige, ten years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ

Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news

Last night, the show about Scientology’s “Archival Project” aired, giving outsiders a pretty amazing look at some of the inner workings making sure Scientology’s wisdom can survive natural disasters and a nuclear holocaust.

We had noticed this look at Scientology archives being promoted on its Scientology TV network [...]]]>

Last night, the show about Scientology’s “Archival Project” aired, giving outsiders a pretty amazing look at some of the inner workings making sure Scientology’s wisdom can survive natural disasters and a nuclear holocaust.

We had noticed this look at Scientology archives being promoted on its Scientology TV network earlier (and which Marc Headley noticed). And we’ve had a pretty good look at this stuff before, through Scientology’s own publications. But it was still pretty stunning to see on television.

The hour-long program gave some intimate looks at the kind of work that archivists are doing at a small mountain compound above Los Angeles, the headquarters of the Church of Spiritual Technology (CST).

However, CST itself was never mentioned, and neither was the location, and the vaults where the archived material is stored were also not located.

As former CST employee Dylan Gill explained to us last time, the archival project of storing L. Ron Hubbard’s words is well known among Scientologists, but CST itself is one of Scientology’s most closely-held secrets.

But we’re expecting that non-Scientologist viewers probably had two reactions…

1. The expense for storing Hubbard’s books, lectures, and films on nickel-plated grooved records and stainless steel plates in titanium time capsules has to be monstrously expensive.

2. Why in the hell is this much effort being put into storing, of all things, the words of L. Ron Hubbard?

And third, for those in the know, were they really showing us the archiving work being done at a small compound where we believe that Scientology leader David Miscavige has been keeping his wife, Shelly Miscavige, out of sight since the summer of 2005?

“There’s no archiving being done anywhere else. It’s all up at that main base,” Gill tells us.

We couldn’t help wondering if one of the workers wearing protective clothing might have been Shelly herself. Here are some of the images from the show…

 
Dylan Gill: “That’s Alex Tom Wheeler. He was in HCO. I worked with that guy every day.”

 
We got a glimpse of this training film being preserved that references the TRs and “Alice in Wonderland.” Does this bring back some memories from our oldtimers?

 
The program boasted about baking ink samples in a radiation oven. Hang on, isn’t special permitting needed before you can zap things with gamma rays? Does anyone know?

 
This person was apparently an outside vendor who helped with the work? We believe his name is Brian Wald. Hey, thanks for the help storing the Commodore’s magic technology!

 
Funny how they don’t name anybody in the program. It’s almost like they have something to hide…

 
…but this academic is plainly Patrick Mason, who is not only a religious historian but is also Dean of the School of Arts & Humanities at Claremont Graduate University in Southern California. Woo-hoo! He’s helping to make sure somebody 10,000 years from now can get bullbaited.

Well, we have to say this program was just about the only one we’ve seen so far on Scientology TV that was actually fun to watch. The money being spent is truly prodigious, but, you know, when you want to defeat time itself, you have to go big.

 
——————–

Police report released in Arnie Lerma attempted murder, suicide

We expect to get more details from the Sylvania Police Department in the coming days, but for now we did obtain a copy of the initial incident report from the awful event on March 16, when noted Scientology critic Arnie Lerma shot his wife Ginger Sugerman in the face and then turned the gun on himself.

Ginger told us that she ran to a neighbor, who then called for emergency services. (We’ve redacted that person’s name until we can contact them.) Sylvania PD officer Michael Dickerson responded at 11:33 pm, according to the report. This is the narrative he later filed…

On the date and time stated I responded to a 911 dispatch to 308 Holly Rd. in reference to a white female with a gunshot to the head. Upon arrival I made contact with the home owner, [redacted] who was walking with the victim, Ginger Sugerman down his driveway toward me and my partner, Ofc. Bennett. Mrs. Sugerman had a gunshot wound to her mouth and was in shock, but was able to state that she had been shot by her husband, Arnaldo Lerma at 314 Holly Rd. EMS was standing by down the street and at this time I notified 911 to have them move to my location. I sent Ofc. Bennett with EMS to the Hospital to get any additional information he could and try to take pictures of the injuries. I relocated to the driveway of the apartments where 314 Holly Rd. and the shooter, Lerma was stated to be. I had 911 make contact with GSP [Georgia State Police] and the Screven County Sheriffs Office for any assistance they could give. I made contact with Lt. Taylor who stated he was on the way and attempted to make contact with Chief Burke, Deputy Gordon, Lt. Taylor and Chief Weaver arrive and discuss our options. Ofc. Bennett and GSP954 arrive on scene and are sent to cover the rear exit of the apartment. After repeated attempts to make contact with Lerma at the front door to 314 and finding the door not secured we made entry and found Lerma in the first floor bathroom deceased from a self inflicted gunshot wound to his head. Sylvania Fire and Animal Control were dispatched to remove a dog and the bathroom door.

 
We expect to get more information from the police department about the scene itself. Based on what we’ve gathered so far, there were actually two bullet holes in the wall of the apartment near where Ginger had been watching television. She had told us that she had run and fallen before she was shot, but the evidence at the scene suggests she was shot and then ran. Also, that Lerma shot twice, hitting her once. After that initial volley, and after Ginger had run away, a neighbor then heard an additional shot several minutes later, which was apparently the sound of Lerma ending his life. As the report notes, he was found in the bathroom slumped against the door, which had to be removed by its hinges to get to him, another indication that he’d been by himself when he died.

It’s just a very sad end for a man who had once taken on Scientology in epic battles over the early Internet, and who had amassed a major online repository of critical information of the church. Ginger, meanwhile, continues to heal. We’ll continue to check in on her.

 
——————–

Enturbulation in Florida!

You may remember our story with Neil Sarfati, who talked to us about his days aboard the Apollo and in the band the Apollo All-Stars. Today he posted this anecdote and we thought you’d want to see it…

 
——————–

SMERSH Madness 2018

Today we’re continuing the third round of our big dance featuring the people we think are working hardest to defend Scientology against its enemies. These are not only Scientologists, but also the people who enable the church as it works against its foes. Which of them do you think deserves the most recognition for Keeping Scientology Working, spreading disconnection, and litigating former Scientologists into the ground?

Today’s match features our #2 seed, actor Tom Cruise, who defeated Tommy Davis in the second round. Easily the most recognized Scientologist in the world, he’s been a feather in David Miscavige’s cap since he started in the church back in the year 1986. And today, Cruise and Miscavige really do consider themselves the two most important human beings on Earth, and those of us not following their example are deluded, degraded beings living on a prison planet. Even after the revelations that his best pal is spying on him, manipulating his relationships, and even laughs at his sexual problems behind his back, Cruise seems utterly dedicated to the cause — despite what you might have heard.

Cruise is taking on our #10 seed Nancy Cartwright, the voice actor famous for her work as Bart Simpson. (Nancy defeated Nation of Islam’s Minister Louis Farrakhan in the first round and Joy Villa in the second.) In Scientology, she’s also known as “Her Royal Governness of the Vast Valley Territory,” because she took the lead on fundraising for so many years in order to complete the “Ideal Org” in the San Fernando Valley. But she’s also known inside Scientology celebrity circles as being a real hard-ass, riding other celebrities about staying on lines and making donations. An OT 8, Nancy is a bitter-ender who will stay with Scientology believing that someday, it will make her a god.

Who deserves to move on as champions of Scientology? Who has done more to perpetuate the church’s reputation in this time of crisis? Cast your votes!

 
Yesterday’s winner: Marty Rathbun stomped John Travolta!

 
——————–

Make your plans now!

Head over to our HowdyCon 2018 website to start making your travel plans!

 
——————–

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on March 27, 2018 at 07:00

E-mail tips and story ideas to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We post behind-the-scenes updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.

Our book, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.

The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2017 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Undergound Bunker (2012-2017), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)

Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…

BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of L.A. attorney and former church member Vance Woodward
UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists
GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice
SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts

Other links: Shelly Miscavige, ten years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ

Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news

 In December, a retired NYPD detective was sitting in a silver minivan with Texas plates when our source, who we’re not going to name, got into a conversation with him.

The detective was parked outside a movie set in Brooklyn, working as a private investigator, and our source asked him what his assignment was.

Following Leah Remini, [...]]]>

 
In December, a retired NYPD detective was sitting in a silver minivan with Texas plates when our source, who we’re not going to name, got into a conversation with him.

The detective was parked outside a movie set in Brooklyn, working as a private investigator, and our source asked him what his assignment was.

Following Leah Remini, he said. He told our source that he was working for the Church of Scientology, and his assignment was to watch Remini for twelve hours a day, Monday to Friday, for two weeks.

The movie being filmed at the set was “Second Act,” which also stars Remini’s close friend Jennifer Lopez and is scheduled to be released this fall.

He related to our source that earlier, when the set had been located in Manhattan’s Soho, he had almost got into an accident following Remini on a wild drive on a highway.

We confirmed that with Remini’s driver, who tells us that two cars, one of them a silver minivan with Texas plates, began following them one late night after the filming at the Soho set had finished.

The driver made a quick turn onto a highway offramp, and when he did, the two cars following missed the turn and tried to back up — a very dangerous move on the busy road.

It was very risky, the driver told us, adding how shocked he was that someone would put lives in danger to follow around an actress.

We called up the retired detective to ask him about that incident, and to ask him why he was following Leah Remini.

“I don’t know who that is,” he told us, and said he wasn’t the person we were looking for.

We asked him if he really wanted us to believe that a retired New York police detective had never heard of Leah Remini and The King of Queens.

“I never watched the show because I was working,” he said. “I’m a guy who’s always working.”

He also denied that he’d ever worked for the Church of Scientology.

During the filming of Leah’s first season of Scientology and the Aftermath, her crew caught Daril Cinquanta, a well known former Denver policeman, following Leah. When we called Cinquanta to ask him why he was tailing her, he quipped, “Does she want an autograph?”

No doubt, the money for tailing Leah is pretty good. In 2013, when two private investigators were detained by police in Wisconsin while they were stalking Scientology leader David Miscavige’s own father, Ron Miscavige, they revealed that they were being paid $10,000 a week, in cash, by the church.

Scientology never changes. It will continue to spend tax-free money it gets from its members on campaigns to follow and harass former members and journalists — even if it means putting people at risk.

In another sign that Scientology is amping up its “noisy investigations” in reaction to the news that a third season of Aftermath is coming, yesterday Angelo Pagan’s son from a previous marriage was accosted by a person claiming to be a reporter, who asked if he had been mistreated by Leah, his stepmother.

We could find no evidence of publications by the supposed reporter, who gave her name as Valerie Morgan on a very generic-looking business card. We sent her an email, asking if she was working for Freedom magazine or some other publication, and we’ll let you know if she gets back to us.

Meanwhile, other Aftermath participants continue to find themselves in the crosshairs. Online attacks on Remini’s co-star, Mike Rinder, happen pretty continuously, but a new accusatory video featuring his estranged daughter Taryn was more visible than previous efforts. And we can also report that your proprietor has experienced an increase in online harassment in the last two months, aimed at his wife and her family.

So while David Miscavige tries to burnish Scientology’s image at his new television network, we can confirm that the church is still following its old playbook, and has sent out the usual goons in force.

 
——————–

SMERSH Madness 2018

Today we’re continuing the third round of our big dance featuring the people we think are working hardest to defend Scientology against its enemies. These are not only Scientologists, but also the people who enable the church as it works against its foes. Which of them do you think deserves the most recognition for Keeping Scientology Working, spreading disconnection, and litigating former Scientologists into the ground?

Our match today features our #3 seed, actor John Travolta, who defeated spokeswoman Karin Pouw in the second round. One of the most well known icons of Scientology, he was lured into the church while he was acting in his first movie, 1975’s The Devil’s Rain. In recent years, he’s fended off questions about Scientology’s bad press by saying he doesn’t pay attention to it. Probably the number one question we get asked about Travolta is whether he’s really a true believer or just afraid to leave the church and face its wrath with leaks about his sex life. According to our best celebrity source, “The blackmail thing? No. That’s not what keeps him in. Nobody cares. If he was open about his sex life, no one, even in Hollywood, would care. Blackmail would only make him resentful, and he’s not resentful. He’s just convinced that every success he’s had comes from Scientology, and it’s the positive things he believes he’s gotten from it that keep him from believing any criticism of it.”

Travolta is taking on our #11 seed and former top Scientology official Mark “Marty” Rathbun, who has certainly been earning his stripes lately as Scientology’s go-to attack dog. (Rathbun defeated Danny Masterson in the first round and Trish Duggan in the second.) It’s a pretty stunning turn of events for people who were watching Rathbun’s gradual trajectory from Miscavige enforcer (1980s to 2004) to reclusive defector (2004-2008) to Indie champion (2009-2012) to anti-church litigant (2013-2015) and then back to Miscavige defender (2016- ). In his professionally-prepared attack videos, he’s taken a shotgun approach with blasts at everyone from Lawrence Wright to Paul Haggis to Leah Remini. But it’s his vicious swipes at Mike Rinder, formerly such a good and supportive friend, that really strike us as ugly in the extreme. It’s a pretty bewildering U-turn for a man who once said, “Just so everybody knows, as Miscavige just won’t seem to get it through his head, I will never fold to any pressure no matter how intense, and I am not for sale – at any price.”

Who deserves to move on as champions of Scientology? Who has done more to perpetuate the church’s reputation in this time of crisis? Cast your votes!

 
Yesterday’s winner: Monique Yingling bested Kendrick Moxon!

 
——————–

Make your plans now!

Head over to our HowdyCon 2018 website to start making your travel plans!

 
——————–

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on March 26, 2018 at 07:00

E-mail tips and story ideas to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We post behind-the-scenes updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.

Our book, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.

The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2017 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Undergound Bunker (2012-2017), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)

Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…

BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of L.A. attorney and former church member Vance Woodward
UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists
GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice
SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts

Other links: Shelly Miscavige, ten years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ

Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news

Rod Keller continues to take apart David Miscavige’s ‘Ideal Org’ strategy for us…

As expected, (San Fernando) Valley org won the annual Birthday Game contest this year. But the runners-up still get jockey trophies, as Denmark won for Europe and Melbourne won for ANZO. Only newly [...]]]>

Rod Keller continues to take apart David Miscavige’s ‘Ideal Org’ strategy for us…

As expected, (San Fernando) Valley org won the annual Birthday Game contest this year. But the runners-up still get jockey trophies, as Denmark won for Europe and Melbourne won for ANZO. Only newly opened Ideal Orgs have won the overall title in recent years, and our money is on Dublin to win next year. Ireland’s capital previously had only a small mission until money and staff poured in from around the world. Scientology seems determined to make Dublin a success.

Orlando and Perth were both pushing hard to complete their Ideal Org filing project by L. Ron Hubbard’s birthday. Both missed the target, but should still open their Ideal Orgs this year. Orlando’s filing is being done in Clearwater, and the grand opening is scheduled for late April.

 
The push to recruit staff intensifies as an Ideal Org opening approaches. Bringing in staff from far away is common, and publics can be asked to donate frequent flyer miles or donate to retire a debt that allows a recruit to arrive.

My name Adi. I am a Scientologist muslim and IAS lifetime member from Indonesia. Since 2016 I have been helping introduce Scientology into the Muslim community here in Indonesia, starting with a Way to Happiness campaign. Because of my efforts, in 2017 I got the honour of coming to Australia to study Life Improvement Courses in both Perth and Sydney Churches.

Now I am joining staff for Perth Ideal Org and coming to Australia as soon as possible. For me to arrive I have to close out my cycles in Indonesia. This includes completing my university studies which is very important and a point of trust with my parents before I leave for 5 year contract. At this time all I have left is paying my expenses at the university. This will cost me $600 that I do not have. The economics of Indonesia make this a big challenge and takes too long.

I really need your help to make my dream come true with your donation to make it possible for me to arrive. If you cannot do all of this, perhaps some portion of it. Contact me and I can arrange to receive funds. Contact Karl (kwhitch01@gmail.com) on the Perth Ideal Org Establishment Mission to verify that I really am me and that this is true.

We recently reported on a Scientology event at the United Nations building in Geneva, Switzerland. OSA member Ivan Arjona Pelado organized the event to put pressure on Russia and Hungary for their investigations into Scientology. This week OSA member Eric Roux held a similar conference in remote Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan at the American University of Central Asia, in coordination with the cult apologist group Cesnur.

Author and mental health counselor Steven Hassan tells us, “Cesnur and cult apologists hold these conferences with representatives of many different destructive cults. Moonies, Scientologists, Falun Dafa, LaRouche, Opus Dei and more. They all deny social science evidence about undue influence. They deny the lack of informed consent and they share resources against their common enemies.”

 
It’s ironic that destructive groups band together in the name of human rights to oppose governments and activists who expose their abuses. Scientology is planning a human rights training event on April 28 with the Moonies at the Unification Church in Monterey Park, a suburb of Los Angeles.

 
— Rod Keller

 
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Danny Masterson has a gig

Huffington Post writer Yashar Ali pointed out last night at Twitter that Danny Masterson’s musical side project, the band Grandpa vs Prowler, has a gig on Tuesday night at the The Satellite club in Los Angeles…

 
We’re not only interested to see if the venue goes through with it, but also if Masterson’s pal Michael Peña, the band’s drummer, makes the scene as well. We hope one of our correspondents can attend and let us know.

 
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SMERSH Madness 2018

It’s time to start the third round of our big dance featuring the people we think are working hardest to defend Scientology against its enemies. These are not only Scientologists, but also the people who enable the church as it works against its foes. Which of them do you think deserves the most recognition for Keeping Scientology Working, spreading disconnection, and litigating former Scientologists into the ground?

We’re kicking off the round with our #20 seed, Scientology attorney Kendrick Moxon, who defeated private investigator Dave Lubow in the first round and actress Kirstie Alley in the second. Moxon’s credentials as a Scientology henchman go way back — he was even an unindicted co-conspirator in the Snow White prosecutions of the late 1970s that sent 11 top church officials to prison for taking part in the country’s largest domestic espionage scheme. Years later, Moxon really didn’t appreciate it when we discovered that he was still doing questionable things with documents on behalf of the church in our story about his battle with lawyer Graham Berry. And of course, Moxon was intimately involved in Scientology’s sneaky operation that resulted in the church taking over one of its most bitter enemies, the Cult Awareness Network. This guy sure gets around.

He’s taking on our number #5 seed, Washington DC tax attorney Monique Yingling, who defeated Bodhi Elfman in the second round. Monique has been working for Scientology for many years. But for much of that time she was somewhat overshadowed by her husband, the late Gerald Feffer, who was Scientology’s biggest legal heavy hitter. After his death in 2013, Monique has really come into her own as David Miscavige’s legal shield, particularly her spectacular performance two years ago on an episode of ABC’s 20/20. She was a last-minute addition just as the program was about to air an episode about Ron Miscavige’s book, Ruthless, and she blinked her way through an amazing series of obfuscations and half-truths, becoming an overnight star for the church. She even brought the crew muffins that had been baked by Sea Org workers. With Miscavige not able to put any Scientologists in front of news cameras, we may be seeing more of Yingling in the future.

Who deserves to move on as champions of Scientology? Who has done more to perpetuate the church’s reputation in this time of crisis? Cast your votes!

 
Yesterday’s winner: David Miscavige crushed Mike Ellis!

Let’s take a look at our brackets as we start the third round…

 
——————–

Make your plans now!

Head over to our HowdyCon 2018 website to start making your travel plans!

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on March 25, 2018 at 07:00

E-mail tips and story ideas to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We post behind-the-scenes updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.

Our book, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.

The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2017 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Undergound Bunker (2012-2017), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)

Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…

BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of L.A. attorney and former church member Vance Woodward
UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists
GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice
SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts

Other links: Shelly Miscavige, ten years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ

Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news

 Chris Shelton has a treat for us today — he talks with Leah Remini!

Here’s the intro he sent for today’s podcast…

My “Sensibly Speaking Podcast” has featured a number of former Scientologists, exit counselors, therapists, and professionals from other interesting fields, but this week I was proud to host Leah Remini, co-creator of Scientology and [...]]]>

 
Chris Shelton has a treat for us today — he talks with Leah Remini!

Here’s the intro he sent for today’s podcast…

My “Sensibly Speaking Podcast” has featured a number of former Scientologists, exit counselors, therapists, and professionals from other interesting fields, but this week I was proud to host Leah Remini, co-creator of Scientology and the Aftermath and star of King of Queens and Kevin Can Wait. She actually agreed to come on a couple of months ago and we were finally able to arrange the time to do our phone interview this last week.

In Scientology and the Aftermath and on many major media outlets and shows, Leah has described the abuses of Scientology in grim detail and why she has brought the fight back to the Church of Scientology’s doorstep. In this podcast, I wanted to try to dive into some topics not often discussed in as much detail, such as Leah’s own personal transition out of the bubble world of Scientology and recovery from it. We also briefly discuss the other potential new show under development to help survivors and former members of other destructive cults, as well as her thoughts on the new Aftermath Foundation.

Advertisement

While some of this podcast won’t be new information for many Scientology watchers and those familiar with her show, this podcast will give anyone who is interested in this topic and in Leah something new to learn and hopefully generate assistance in our cause to end the Church of Scientology’s abuses forever. Enjoy!

 
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SMERSH Madness 2018

Today we’re finishing up the second round of our big dance featuring the people we think are working hardest to defend Scientology against its enemies. These are not only Scientologists, but also the people who enable the church as it works against its foes. Which of them do you think deserves the most recognition for Keeping Scientology Working, spreading disconnection, and litigating former Scientologists into the ground?

Our matchup today features our #1 seed, Scientology leader David Miscavige. He’s at the top of the heap because he’s been leading the Scientology movement for more than 30 years now. His biggest accomplishment in that time, no doubt, was winning tax-exempt status for the church in 1993. In more recent years, he’s been consumed with making appearances of Scientology “expansion” with his “Ideal Org” program, opening buildings around the world as a media strategy. But the relentless pressure he’s put on members to donate, coupled with his legendary ruthlessness, has produced a steady exodus of many longtime, loyal fans of L. Ron Hubbard. And now, his new grand scheme: Scientology TV. We were actually surprised to see him introduce the new TV channel with a short monologue. Now, if he’d only sit down for a real press interview.

Miscavige is pitted against our #17 seed, International Justice Chief Mike Ellis, who defeated actress Laura Prepon in the first round. Ellis is the “terminal” that is your only hope of getting back in the good graces of the church if you are booted out and “declared” a “suppressive person.” Ellis has featured pretty prominently in our coverage of the lawsuit filed by Luis and Rocio Garcia alleging that they were defrauded by the church. Most recently, it was Ellis who “hatted” an arbitrating panel in Los Angeles with some of the wackiest Scientologese we’ve seen in a long while. Ellis is a lifer who will do whatever it takes to please David Miscavige and the “Keeping Scientology Working” policy, and he personally has the fates of many Scientology families in his grasp.

Who deserves to move on as champions of Scientology? Who has done more to perpetuate the church’s reputation in this time of crisis? Cast your votes!

 
Yesterday’s winner: Tom Cruise crushed Tommy Davis!

 
——————–

Make your plans now!

Head over to our HowdyCon 2018 website to start making your travel plans!

 
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——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on March 24, 2018 at 07:00

E-mail tips and story ideas to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We post behind-the-scenes updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.

Our book, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.

The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2017 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Undergound Bunker (2012-2017), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)

Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…

BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of L.A. attorney and former church member Vance Woodward
UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists
GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice
SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts

Other links: Shelly Miscavige, ten years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ

Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news

 Please believe us when we say that we really, really never wanted to write a single word about the pathetic Internet trolls known as John Alex Wood and Gemma Harris.

Numerous times, we have warned people — practically begged them, actually — not to take the bait and interact with these two on Twitter, where they [...]]]>

 
Please believe us when we say that we really, really never wanted to write a single word about the pathetic Internet trolls known as John Alex Wood and Gemma Harris.

Numerous times, we have warned people — practically begged them, actually — not to take the bait and interact with these two on Twitter, where they carry on intentionally misleading “debates” about Scientology, which is clearly their full-time jobs.

The only reason we’re breaking our personal rule to ignore them is to provide a cautionary tale.

The family of Jill, a nurse in Ohio, is reeling after she became the target of Wood’s blog, which included private information about her, her husband, and their family.

For writing some tweets about Scientology in debates with Harris, Wood “doxxed” Jill.

Jill has 14 children, 11 of whom are adopted. “They’re so upset and terrified they’ve shut down all social media,” she says.

She tells us that things started when she saw the episode of Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath that featured Nathan Rich and Tara Reile talking about degrading conditions at the Scientologist-run Mace-Kingsley ranches.

“I was mad, sad, and disgusted. I got on Twitter to ask Leah and Mike questions, and they responded. So did Nathan and Tara.”

Then, she came across something Harris said about a Scientology offshoot. As ever, Harris was carrying on a running commentary with numerous Scientology ex-members and critics. Jill says these other critics began to contact her as she joined the fray, and she says it was “a nice diversion from stressors of the day.”

When Harris began quizzing Jill directly — about whether she had read L. Ron Hubbard’s book Dianetics — Jill says she didn’t take it very seriously. “I’d read or at least flipped through Dianetics in my 20s. So I made some sarcastic comments about it. To me, it was playful banter.”

She also got encouragement from some others to ask certain questions of Harris, and she did so, treating it more like a game than anything else.

“I had no damn idea she would dox me and put my physical address on Twitter.”

Wood jumped on Jill’s changing answers about whether she’d read Dianetics or not to prove that Jill was lying. At his website, he posted her sarcastic tweets and used it to spell out the sensitive work that she and her husband do with mentally ill patients.

“I had no idea how horrible those two are,” she says. “I never thought that some sarcastic tweets would be manufactured into a hate blog.

“It’s affected my whole family. And when Gem put my physical address up she put us in harm’s way,” she says, pointing out that they live in a small town where there’s no anonymity.

“I know now that I brought this hellstorm on myself. Being new to Twitter and not knowing what asses they were, it’s all me. And now my family is, excuse my mouth, losing their shit,” she says.

So, we thought it was a good idea to tell our readers about this and say it once again…

Please, please, stop trying to “debate” John Alex Wood and Gemma Harris about Scientology. You are just adding to their weekly “stats,” and completely wasting your own time.

 
——————–

SMERSH Madness 2018

Today we’re continuing with the second round of our big dance featuring the people we think are working hardest to defend Scientology against its enemies. These are not only Scientologists, but also the people who enable the church as it works against its foes. Which of them do you think deserves the most recognition for Keeping Scientology Working, spreading disconnection, and litigating former Scientologists into the ground?

Today’s match features our #2 seed, actor Tom Cruise. Easily the most recognized Scientologist in the world, he’s been a feather in David Miscavige’s cap since he started in the church back in the year 1986. And today, Cruise and Miscavige really do consider themselves the two most important human beings on Earth, and those of us not following their example are deluded, degraded beings living on a prison planet. Even after the revelations that his best pal is spying on him, manipulating his relationships, and even laughs at his sexual problems behind his back, Cruise seems utterly dedicated to the cause — despite what you might have heard.

Tom is taking on our #18 seed, that beloved figure of Scientology watchers everywhere, former church spokesman Tommy Davis, who bested attorney Gary Soter in the first round. Although Tommy left his Sea Org position in 2011, he testified in a 2013 court case that he’s still a member of the church, and our readers certainly haven’t forgotten him. The good-looking son of actress Anne Archer, Davis came to prominence as Tom Cruise’s go-fer who then became the face of the church for several years as he sat for contentious interviews with the likes of the BBC’s John Sweeney, ABC’s Martin Bashir, and CNN’s John Roberts. More recently, Tommy spent a little more than a year playing at Hollywood studio head when he went to work for Australian billionaire James Packer, but now he’s back to working for billionaire real estate investor Tom Barack, one of Donald Trump’s key money-raisers. It’s been years since Tommy did anything overtly for the church, but he certainly left his mark and continues to remind people of the days when Scientology was more aggressive with the press.

Who deserves to move on as champions of Scientology? Who has done more to perpetuate the church’s reputation in this time of crisis? Cast your votes!

 
Yesterday’s winner: John Travolta slithered past Karin Pouw!

 
——————–

Make your plans now!

Head over to our HowdyCon 2018 website to start making your travel plans!

 
——————–

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on March 23, 2018 at 07:00

E-mail tips and story ideas to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We post behind-the-scenes updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.

Our book, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.

The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2017 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Undergound Bunker (2012-2017), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)

Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…

BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of L.A. attorney and former church member Vance Woodward
UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists
GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice
SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts

Other links: Shelly Miscavige, ten years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ

Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news